Bring it on … !!!

Today the day started quite auspiciously … the Dragon (aka Mum) was kind enough to offer to stitch some calico strips to some ornies etc I have kitted up, so they’re ready for stitching while I’m housesitting (that way they fit in my Q-snaps, ‘cos I can’t stitch in hand). While I’m snoozing away in the bedroom due to my awful shifts, it gives her something to do until I finally surface again … she’d been overlocking the fabric edges when she decided to change the thread colour but then killed the overlocker – the threads now keep breaking, and she can’t get into the thing properly to fix it … anyway, we figure that’s no biggie, we’ll just use the sewing machine to zigzag the edges and then stitch the calico on … no problem …

Yeah, right … it died … kaput! Nothing will get the darned thing to operate again … it was a bit dicky when Mum was using it during the last visit, and apparently wouldn’t wind thread onto a bobbin etc. Well, nothing worked today – winding on, stitch selection buttons, or anything … as the Toyota adverts says, it was definitely a “B*gger!” moment!!

Personally, it didn’t surprise me in the slightest … if there’s nothing else that I’ve learnt over the last 6-7 months, it’s the fact that when you think nothing more can go wrong, something inevitably will! The good news is that today for the first time I’ve got a smidgen of my old fighting spirit and good humour back again … mainly, I guess, because I made a big decision today – and conquered a difficult and potentially conflictual situation.

Today I finally decided that I am going to go housesitting for perhaps 6-12 months if I can last that long! I’m so disappointed in the fact that Sheree has had no regard for my feelings, or any shred of common decency, by not telling me she had possible intentions to leave me in the lurch and stay where she is currently instead of going flatting together. I actually don’t blame her at all, but it would have been nice to have been told to my face. I brought it up with her today at work and said how disappointed I was, and that I’ve pretty much decided while driving into work to go housesitting instead, because I have no idea how long I can trust her to hang around for … apparently she was not looking at going flatting again because her car had been ‘keyed’ twice in the last week, costing her over $1,000, so she can’t stay where she is staying as her car needs to be in a more secure living arrangement. She’d already mentioned previously that she may not stay in Melbourne longer than another 12-18 months, so I may have been up for another move for finding another flatmate then too. I have to admit, I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after making that decision, and discussing it with Sheree … whether or not it will turn out to be a good decision, only time will tell, but for now it feels good!!

Mum and I spent a short time this morning checking out mobile wireless broadband options, and eventually I think I’ll pick up a connection with Unwired … although if I’m going to be housesitting permanently I’m also going to need a laptop, which will take me a while to be able to afford – but it’s a good option for further down the track 🙂

Aside from that, Mum and I popped out to Spotlight at lunchtime, before I went to work, to price up cheap sewing machines … we figure my machine is nearly 20 years old, and how much it’s going to cost to fix may not warrant the money … so we’ve unexpectedly got a machine on hold – yikes!! We were originally only going to price them up, to work out whether it would be worth getting my old one fixed. The pleasant surprise we got was a Brother BM-2600 and it’s dirt cheap at only $199 (left over specials from Mother’s Day, it was originally retailing for $279) – admittedly it’s only a very basic model, but I no longer do stitching with fancy stitches, so for now this will suit me very well. It’s also extremely light and portable, so I could even take it with me housesitting (my old Janome 6000 is like lifting a ton of bricks!!)! Mum and I were very excited to find something so cheap … and Mum’s being very good at helping me spend that first pay cheque that’s coming soon when I don’t have rent to pay – it’s the last thing I expected to be buying, but I use my old one all the time, even if it’s just to attach those calico strips! It’s not going to be great for machine quilting a queen size quilt (the actual quilting of the batting etc), but it’ll be a long time before I get to that stage, so for now I think this will be just perfect! And the salesperson was really really helpful, and very knowledgeable about the machines … she’s even told me she’s happy to give me a 1/2-3/4 hr lesson if I need it after I’ve moved out! So yes, Mum and I are definitely sold on it I guess 😉

As for everything else, I haven’t touched a needle since last week, although tomorrow I’ll post a piccie of my Bordeaux progress I did earlier. We picked up some smaller book boxes from the storage place today, as the ones we’d got basically could barely be lifted – and this way all the boxes will be a uniform shape … tomorrow we’ll attempt to take the dining table apart to give us more packing space both in the dining area and in the storage area when we move. This weekend is going to be full-on packing-wise. Next week I’ve managed to get some shift swaps to 5am starts on Mon/Tue which will give me the afternoons free for packing. I can’t believe the official moving date is now only 1 1/2 weeks away … yikes!!

I have to say I’m looking forward to a non-ventilated home – it was a sultry 12C in our lounge last night (56F for those of you ‘up north’) … Mum had on about 5 layers of clothing, and I’m now sat at the PC with my outdoor coat on. Mum has been spoiling me, though – this week I’m on 4pm shift starts, so I don’t get home until 12.30am-ish, and get to bed about 1.30am … last night I staggered into the bedroom freezing cold only to find my electric blanket already on, with the bed toasty warm, and my PJ’s under the duvet so they were toasty warm to jump into … my Dragon rocks!!! 😀

Talking of which, I suppose it’s time to go jump into that toasty bed again … it’s so nice to have a bit of pampering right now! Such a small thoughtful gesture has such a huge impact … I love my Mum!! 😀

I’m so glad you have your Mom there to look after you! She sounds like an absolutely lovely dragon! Thought he decisions you’ve made have been difficult you have to look at them as progress. Sometimes just making the decision really takes a lot of mental weight off. Good luck to you and please try to keep posting when you can. hugs from the States, Nancy D. hedghogmom@aol.com

You definitely made the right decision. I know it is hard not to have “your things” around, but this will cut your expenses so dramatically that the money that you put aside will make a much better cushion when you do feel up to having your own place again. Meanwhile you may have access to some books and movies you might not otherwise have seen. I hope you get to sit in some beautiful places.

Sounds like you and your mom are having a busy, busy time! I laughed out loud when I read your weather complaint because my thermostats on my main level are set at 12C during the winter here in Canada (the basement is set at 15C)! You would be a kiwi popsicle here!